Ephesians 6:10-20

Common English Bible

Put on the armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. ¹¹Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. ¹²We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. ¹³Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. ¹⁴So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, ¹⁵and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. ¹⁶Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

¹⁸Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. ¹⁹As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan^[a] of the gospel known. ²⁰I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.

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Footnotes

Ephesians 6:19 Or mystery

Psalm 144:1-10

Common English Bible

Psalm 144

Of David.

144 Bless the Lord, my rock,
    who taught my hands how to fight,
    who taught my fingers how to do battle!
²God is my loyal one, my fortress,
    my place of safety, my rescuer,
    my shield, in whom I take refuge,
        and the one who subdues people before me.

³What are human beings, Lord, that you know them at all?
What are human beings that you even consider them?
⁴Humans are like a puff of air;
their days go by like a shadow.

⁵Lord, part your skies and come down!
    Touch the mountains so they smoke!
⁶Flash lightning and scatter the enemy!
    Shoot your arrows and defeat them!
⁷Stretch out your hand from above!
    Rescue me and deliver me from deep water,
    from the power of strangers, whose mouths speak lies,
⁸        and whose strong hand is a strong hand of deception!

⁹I will sing a new song to you, God.
    I will sing praises to you on a ten-stringed harp,
¹⁰        to you—the one who gives saving help to rulers,
        and who rescues his servant David from the evil sword.

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Luke 13:31-35

Common English Bible

Sorrow for Jerusalem

³¹At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”

³²Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. ³³However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’

³⁴“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. ³⁵Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”^[a]

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